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September
28, 2003 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
A.
No Monopoly on the Spirit
B.
Many Gifts, One Spirit
Readings:
Num 11:25-29;
Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14;
James 5:1-6 (Listen
to MP3 - Rich
and Satisfied)
Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Commentaries
/ Gospel Reflections from:
Sunday's
Into Silence • Diario Biblico • Daily Gospel
Greeting
(See 1 Cor 12:4-7)
There
is a variety of gifts,
but they come from the same Spirit,
all sorts of service, but to the same Lord,
many forms of work, but all of them, in all people,
the work of the same God.
In each one the Spirit manifests himself
for the good of all.
May the Lord Jesus give you this Spirit
and always be with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction
by the Celebrant
A.
No Monopoly on the Spirit
How
easily we become suspicious of those who are different from us, particularly
people of other religions. He or she is a Moslem or a Jew or a Protestant
- or a foreigner. For some, perhaps many, this is enough to discredit
that person or the good he or she does. Here comes Jesus, whose heart
beats for all people, and he tells us to be open-minded and to recognize
all the good there is in people and their deeds, whoever they are. The
same Spirit is working in us who works in all who do good. Let the Lord
open our minds today.
B.
Many Gifts, One Spirit
A strong
curse of humanity is its clannishness: my family or clan first, and
the others do not count; my country above all, my tribe or race and
not the rest, my social clique and I look down on the rest; even my
religion, for the others are heretics or pagans. Hence wars, rivalries,
condemnations. Where is the universality of the Church? Do we accept
the Spirit working everywhere? That is what Jesus wants us to do. Let
us ask him in this eucharist to open our minds and hearts to all and
to recognize his Spirit doing good wherever people seek what is right
and just, whether they know it or not.
Penitential
Act
A.
No Monopoly on the Spirit
Let
us ask the Lord to forgive us
our jealousies, our prejudices, our small-mindednes.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus,
your Spirit blows where he wants;
he inspires and moves many:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus
Christ,
your Spirit generously pours out his gifts
on whoever is open to his breath of life:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord
Jesus,
your Spirit gives wisdom and insight
where and when we least expect it:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have
mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us our sins
of self-sufficiency and intolerance.
Open us to the force of your Spirit
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
B.
Many Gifts, One Spirit
Let
us ask the Lord to forgive us
that we have been narrow-minded.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, you want us to be free.
Open the boundaries of our minds and hearts:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus
Christ, open our eyes
to the humble and to the poor,
to people on whom we have looked down:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord
Jesus, make us see with you
all the good there is in people,
even if they are different from us:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have
mercy on us all, Lord,
and forgive us our sins.
Make us one in you
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening
Prayer
Let
us pray that the Spirit of God
may be alive in us and in all people
(PAUSE)
God our Father,
pour out on us and on all people
the life-giving Spirit of your Son.
Let him open our minds,
that we may see your beauty and truth
in an ever-new light.
Let him open our hearts
that we may receive from him every day
a fresh provision of courage.
Let him pour out in all people
a love that is respectful and tolerant.
All this we dare to ask you
in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord. R/ Amen.
Scripture
Readings
First
Reading Introduction: No Monopoly on God's Gifts!
The Spirit of God inspired not only
Moses but also others. God's gifts are for the good of all, not to be
jealously guarded by a few.
First
Reading: Num 11:25-29
Yahweh
came down in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the spirit
that was upon him and put it on the seventy elders. Now when the spirit
rested upon them, they prophesied. But this they did not do again.
Two
men had remained in the camp; the name of one was Eldad, the name of
the other Medad. However, the spirit came on them for they were among
those who were registered though they had not gone out to the Tent.
As they prophesied inside the camp, a young man ran and told Moses,
"Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." Joshua, the
son of Nun, who ministered to Moses from his youth said, "My lord
Moses, stop them!"
But
Moses said to him, "Are you jealous on my behalf? Would that all
Yahweh's people were prophets and that Yahweh would send his spirit
upon them!"
Responsorial
Psalm: Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14
R.
(9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The
law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The
fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Though
your servant is careful of them,
very diligent in keeping them,
yet who can detect failings?
Cleanse me from my unknown faults!
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
From
wanton sin especially, restrain your servant;
let it not rule over me.
then shall I be blameless and innocent
of serious sin.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Second
Reading Introduction: Riches are a Responsibility
In no uncertain terms, James warns
the rich in goods and talents that on the day of judgment their possessions
will testify against them if they have not been used well for others.
Second
Reading: Jas 5:1-6 (Listen
to MP3 - Rich
and Satisfied)
So,
now for what concerns the rich! Cry and weep for the misfortunes that
are coming upon you. Your riches are rotting and your clothes eaten
up by the moths. Your silver and gold have rusted and their rust grows
into a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire, for
having piled up riches in these the last days.
You
deceived the workers who harvested your fields but now their wages cry
out to the heavens. The reapers' complaints have reached the ears of
the Lord of hosts. You lived in luxury and pleasure in this world and
felt happy while others were murdered. You have easily condemned and
killed the innocent since they offered no resistance.
Gospel
Introduction: Appreciate the Good Others Do
Jesus teaches his disciples to appreciate
the good done by others, whoever they are, and never to give scandal.
Gospel
Reading: Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
 John
said to him, "Master, we saw someone who drove out demons by calling
upon your name, and we tried to forbid him because he does not belong
to our group." Jesus answered, "Do not forbid him, for no
one who works a miracle in my name can soon after speak evil of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.
If
anyone gives you a drink of water because you belong to Christ and bear
his name, truly, I say to you, he will not go without reward.
If
anyone should cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble
and sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a
great millstone around his neck.
If your hand makes you fall into sin, cut it off! It is better for you
to enter life without a hand than with two hands to go to hell, to the
fire that never goes out.
And
if your eye makes you fall into sin, tear it out! It is better for you
to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than, keeping both eyes, to
be thrown into hell where the worms that eat them never die, and the
fire never goes out.
Commentary
"Come
now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon
you." A young man in search of salvation consulted an old guru,
"What must I do to become saved?" The guru silently drew
a line after a meter distance and then asked, "Tell me do you
own a house?" The young man answered in the affirmative and so
the guru measured another meter. "Do you own a car?" Again
the young man answered yes and the old guru measured another meter.
"Do you own savings?" Another meter and so on. Till the
old guru measured a total of 20 meters. Then the guru told the young
man: "Now, jump this distance." The young man answered,
"I am not a long distance jumper. I cannot make it." Salvation
is the same, the more things you possess the more difficult it is
to be saved. It is as simple as that.
General
Intercessions
Let
us pray to the Father of all for all people far and near, known and
unknown, and let us say: R/ Lord, your kingdom come to all.
- For
the Church we love, that it may bring forgiveness and love to all, welcome
all, care for all, inspire all with the gentle power of the Holy Spirit,
let us pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come to all.
- For
political leaders, bankers and economists, that they may be concerned
about rich and poor alike, and let all people and nations have a just
share in the riches of this earth, let us pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom
come to all.
- For
people who are persecuted for their faith, for prophets inspired by
the Spirit who remind us in season and out of season of what is really
important in the eyes of God, let us pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom
come to all.
- For
lawmakers, that the Spirit may prompt them to make good laws that are
fair to all; for those who promote justice and freedom that people may
respond to their efforts, let us pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom come
to all.
- For
outcasts and victims of discrimination, that our communities may accept
them fully and make our love so spontaneous and warm that they feel
accepted and at home among us, let us pray: R/ Lord, your kingdom
come to all..
Father,
make our love as generous and wide as the love you have shown us in
Jesus. Let your Spirit open us to all. We ask this through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Prayer
over the Gifts
Our
God and Father,
you invite us to eat with your Son
his meal of communion and peace.
Pour out on us gathered here
the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ,
that we may all be one
and cooperate with all people of good will
to stand up with courage
for freedom and justice everywhere.
May your Spirit work thus in all
to offer you glory and praise for ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction
to the Eucharistic Prayer
Gathered
with our Lord Jesus Christ, let us give thanks to the Father for uniting
us by his Holy Spirit as one Church and one voice of praise to God.
Introduction
to the Lord's Prayer
With
all the variety of our personalities and tasks,
let us be one in the Holy Spirit
to pray to our Father the prayer of Jesus: R/ Our Father...
Deliver
Us
Deliver
us, Lord, from every evil
and grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy keep us free
from our self-opinionated ways,
our clannishness and jealousies.
Make us recognize and appreciate
whatever good there is in people
as we wait together in joyful hope
for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation
to Communion
This
is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world.
Happy are we to be invited
to eat the Lord's body
and to receive his Holy Spirit
of strength and unity. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer
after Communion
God
our Father,
you send us out into the world
by the strength of the Holy Spirit
given us here in this eucharist
by you and by your Son.
Let him blow not only in us
but in whomever he wills
and in the direction you want us to go,
toward your future and your kingdom
of integrity, truth and love.
Grant us this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
It
was already the wish of Moses
that the whole people of God
could be a prophetic people
inspired by God's Spirit.
Christ made us a people
filled with his Holy Spirit.
May this Spirit guide us
to renew this world
and may we recognize him at work
in all the good done by people.
May almighty God bless you all:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
May
Christ fill you with his Spirit
to keep you united in love. R/ Thanks be to God.
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